Baseball activities were conducted Saturday at the Mets’ spring-training complex, in a limited scope, and will likely continue throughout the duration of the sport’s shutdown because of the coronavirus.
On Saturday, general manager Brodie Van Wagenen indicated he was still trying to determine how many players might remain to work out under club guidance. But after a morning meeting with players and staff, Van Wagenen said the organization is not applying pressure in any direction. Players and staff members have the option to remain, go home or return to New York during the layoff.
Van Wagenen said players received treatment Saturday, worked out in the weight room and participated in some baseball activities. Live batting practice (in which batters hit against pitchers throwing at full speed) is not occurring, according to the GM.
Multiple sources indicated many Mets players will likely remain at the spring training site to continue workouts. MLB canceled the remainder of the spring training schedule due to the outbreak of COVID-19.
“We are operating right now that this is bigger than baseball,” Van Wagenen said on a conference call. “This is not about preparing for competition today as much as it is making sure players are considering their own circumstances, because naturally each player has a very different circumstance from one another and we’re encouraging players to be thoughtful and measured in considering their personal and family situations and then we can accommodate them from a baseball standpoint as we have a better handle on players’ individual decision-making.”
NEW YORK SPORTS THIS WEEK 